After a lively seven and a half hours in the car, I finally pulled into the Cobb Galleria Center for Blade Show 2014. I collected my Media Pass, which allows for an early entry into the venue with the VIP attendees, and began my reconnoiter.

It is exciting to be among people who share the passion for a common interest. Blade Show is a place where you can talk to a production wizard such as Spyderco’s Eric Glesser, then walk twenty yards and converse with upstart designer Andy Buerk of fledgling Guardian Tactical (article forthcoming).

You would be hard pressed to decide which man had more pride in their products. It is unmistakable, the gleam in their eyes and the enthusiasm with which they speak. For a knife lover, it is a magical place.

I met a lot of really cool people today and I am lucky to get to go back for a second session tomorrow. More to come…